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Red CenterAustralia's Red CenterIntroduction It's the iconic Outback image of vast, dry land stretching for miles to seemingly nowhere with only an occasional traveler riding through. Though a barren land, it possesses a certain ruggedly beauty. The name "Red Center" is for good reason - the sand is a bright rusty red color because of the large amounts of iron in it. Deep in the heart of the southern end of Australia's Northern Territory are found some of Australia's most famous landmarks. Sparsely populated, the largest town is Alice Springs with a population of about 27,000 as of 2008. Alice Springs gained some attention with the publication of Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice in 1950. However, the most popular destinations are the national parks, including Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Finke Gorge, and Watarrka (Kings Canyon). History Australian Aborigines have inhabited the area, it's estimated, for 40,000 years. Similarly to the rest of Australia, the Aboriginals historically have had to fight for their rights. Today, the Aboriginals make up at least a third of the Northern Territory's population and own close to half the land. Europeans arrived in the 19th Century attempting to use the wide open space for cattle ranches. In the 1880s mining became a primary source of income after the discovery of gold. Today, mining is a legacy of Central Australia, particularly for copper and opals. Railway systems stopping in Alice Springs, en route from Darwin to Adelaide, were set up in the late 1920s. The most famous train is The Ghan, which has become a luxury line popular with tourists. Know Before You Go Being in the Southern Hemisphere, summer is from December to February and winter lasts from June to August. The Red Center is considered a semi-arid climate. There is very little rain, which means you will be in the sun most of the time. Bring lots of sunscreen, remember a hat, and drink plenty of water. As it is a type of desert, temperatures can soar to around 35 degrees Celsius (95 deg. Fahrenheit) during the day and can drop 30 degrees in the evenings. It is not uncommon for it to get above 40 deg. C (about 100 deg. F). Winters are the coolest time of the year, with temperatures in the single digits Celsius (30s Fahrenheit) at night and about 20 C (high 60s F) in the day. Bring lightweight clothing plus a jacket and pants. Much of the destinations requires quite a bit of hiking, so bring casual clothing, and good walking shoes. Distances between towns can be several hours driving time. Make sure the vehicle is well fueled and you have plenty of food, water, and emergency supplies. If you need to use the loo, modesty may have to be forsaken because it will probably be the nearest tree. Attractions West MacDonnell National Park? Dining Much like the Old West in the United States, steak is big. Except, here, you can try kangaroo steaks, emu steaks, crocodile steaks, and more native fare. Bojangles Saloon & Dining Room - Alice Springs Red Ochre Grill - Alice Springs The Overlanders Steakhouse - Alice Springs Todd Tavern - Alice Springs Sounds of Silence - Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara 
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